Dollars for KU research expanding
(Editor's Note: The Kansan reporter spent several weeks looking at the wide-flung research projects being conducted at KU and on other campuses. The following look at KU's interdisciplinary researchers is the first in a series of articles on the subject.)
By MARTHA
MANGELSDORF
Kunsan Staff Writer
Nearly $81/2 million earmarked for research projects flows into the University each year.
The bulk of the donations comes from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Public Health Institution. Measurable sums also come from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Few persons are aware of the types of research done on campus or of University policy governing research, although all records are public. Even fewer appear to know what happens to the $8 1/2 million earmarked for research.
The University clearing board receives only brief reports, often technical, on progress and results of approved projects, and many faculty professors have expressed little concern as to how their research results are applied.
Classified research out
W. J. Argersinger, Jr., associate dean of faculties and overseer for the KU research program, explained that the primary objective is to maximize resources and, through the educational process, explore externally and internally the various scientific and interdisciplinary aspects of any project.
Argersinger emphasized that no classified research ever was accepted in ordinary times at KU, although it is frequently offered. Classified research produces results which cannot be made public, Argersinger explained—an ideal completely alien to the existence of a free university. The pursuit of knowledge and the information won in university research, Argersinger added, is of little value if it must be concealed and protected, and not freely accessible to whomever might want it.
Argersinger said out of the ordinary times, which would be the only justification for classified research, would be
2 KANSAN May 7 1969
during declared states of national emergency. He added that during World War II, faculty members who engaged in classified research went elsewhere to work on their projects. But, during the Korean War two classified projects were in full swing at KU.
Argersinger admitted, though, that often the flat policy of no classified research becomes sticky. State agencies do approach the University asking for the services of professors for such research. Being a state university, and dependent upon state financing, state research organizations argue that a reciprocal aid and service agreement is only reasonable.
Profs rights respected
Profs rights respected Still, it is not the University's province to accept secret research, but neither is it University jurisdiction to infringe upon the rights of the professors as independent individuals to pursue their own areas of interest.
Thus the compromise policy-faculty members may accept contracts to act as consultants only, in a strictly overtime professional capacity for any project. They may not use University facilities, labs, computers, graduate assistants, or civil service staffs for these efforts. Faculty members may, as private citizens, engage in projects consistent with their professional abilities even though he University would not accept the project.
The only requirement is that annual reports of any consulting arrangements must be turned in to Argersinger's office. Argersinger said there was no other supervision of these consulting relationships. There have been no abuses of KU facilities, to Argersinger's knowledge, thus there is no suspicion of working agreements the faculty enters into. Argersinger expressed no desire to make any further checks than the annual reports the faculty are on their honor to turn in.
Attitudes inconsistent
Though there is this freedom for professors, and there must be by the nature and structure of the free university, the attitude of some faculty members toward classified or applied research
GRAVITT'S AUTOMATIC LAUNDRY Bring it in,
we'll do it for you 913 N.H. VI 3-6844
Some professors have expressed nonchalance about the potential or even obvious application of their research, even defense-supported projects. One explained that the Defense Department would easily find someone to do their projects so it might as well be himself as another professor.
seems hardly consistent with University concepts.
Many times a professor can obtain a research grant and work on private interests as well as do the research required by the grant.
The professor said in many cases it was better to engage in defense research of a secret application nature than to leave it for the "military-industrial complex" to do. Often it is better to have the objective, unbiased civilian figure in the decision-making process, hoping to avoid complete autonomy of the military, the professor concluded.
Of the some $8 1/2 million in research assistance, nearly 90 per cent comes from the federal government, especially agencies as the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.
Increased offset cuts
increased offset cuts Every year, including last year, there has been an overall increase in research funds ranging from 3 to 60 per cent. However, Argersinger speculated a comparatively large federal decrease in research grants for the upcoming year.
Many federal agency funds have been curtailed or their aid not renewed. In some areas there has been what Argersinger termed a "severe cutback" or shift in earmarked expenditures. The AEC has suffered drastic cutbacks under the present administration and NASA's budget has been almost depleted in university grants.
Argersinger said, however, that KU had fared comparatively well through the cuts.
KU is listed 59 on the list of the top 100 universities receiving research funds. It ranks in the upper half of the Big Eight in dollar volume, behind Iowa State University and the University of Nebraska with their agricultureal and engineering research centers and behind the University of Missouri, which counts all four campuses in dollar volume received.
Tomorrow: Big Eight and other universities . . . What the facts show is going on behind the scenes in research.
Visiting professor to speak Monday
J. T. Shaw, professor and chairman of Slavic languages at the University of Wisconsin, will speak at 8 p.m. Monday in the Kansas Union Pine Room, the department of slavic languages announced.
Shaw, who received his Ph.D. in slavic languages from Harvard in 1950, will lecture on "The Prose of Puskin."
He has published a three-volume "Letters of Alexander Pushkin" and a booklet entitled "The Translation of Modern Russian for English Language Publications."
MEMO: TO ALL KU STUDENTS and STAFF
The Secretarial Service has a new expanded office to serve you. With the newest most modern equipment in Lawrence, about all that's the same is the service-good fast, guaranteed-7 days a week, 7 a.m.'til midnight.
EXPERT TYPING
✓ COPYING SERVICE
WAKE UP AND ANSWERING SERVICE
PRINTING SERVICE
√ TERM PAPERS TYPED
MIMEOGRAPHING
RESUME'S
✔ BUSINESS LETTERS
ABS SECRETARIAL SERVICE
Formerly: Micki's Secretarial Service 901 KENTUCKY 842-0111